Champions League semi-final
© TM/Imago
The hot phase of the Champions League begins. For the first time since the 2017/18 season, four teams from four different countries made it into the semi -finals. Arsenal FC is dealing with Ligue-1 master Paris Saint-Germain, while Laliga leader FC Barcelona meets Inter Milan from Serie A. Unlike in previous years, it is difficult this time to make out a clear favorite, because there are good arguments that each of the four teams has a realistic chance of triumphant in Munich on May 31. This also has to do with their trainers who are very different.
Arsenals Mikel Areta is the nest crefa in this group because he only denies a season in the Champions League for the second time in his coaching career. Nevertheless, he has already proven that he is one of the best tactics in the industry, as the 5-1 overall victory in the first and second leg of the Gunners showed against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals. Luis Enrique from PSG won the premier class with FC Barcelona in 2015 and relies on an exciting and ball -owned playing style. Barcelonas Hansi Flick triumphed with Bayern in 2020. The former national coach is all about his aggressive pressing in the game. With Inter, Simone Inzaghi has already reached a Champions League final. His team is characterized by the fact that it is very well positioned compactly and defensively.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BALTIONS of Arteta, Luis Enrique, Flick & Inzaghi in comparison
If you compare which of the four coaches have the most experience in the premier class, Luis Enrique is on the sidelines with 59 games. Inzaghi has 49 games in his vita, after that Flick comes with 30 and Areteta with “only” 22 games. If you take a look at the statistics points per game, Flick is at the top, which collected an average of 2.57 points. Only three times the 60-year-old in the Champions League had a defeat in 25 wins and two draws. Its value not only exceeds the other three coaches, but also every other coach in the history of the competition with more than two games.
With an excellent record of 2.09 points per game, Areteta is in second place. The 43-year-old lost only four of his 22 games in this competition-although he has never left the pitch as an inferior in the home in Emirates Stadium. With a larger number of 59 games, Luis Enrique has a record of 1.98 pps and Inzaghi has the worst record of the quartet, but still comes to a respectable 1.86 point per game in 49.
If it is about who has won the most major trophies so far, Luis Enrique is the leader. During his time at Barça and PSG, he got eleven large trophies. In addition to the Henkelpott 2015, the Spanish championship and twice the French championship. Flick won seven big titles with Bayern and the Catalans, including the Champions League as well as twice the master shell in Germany. To date, Inzaghi has raised four large trophies: three with Inter and one with Lazio. In the royal class finale in 2023, however, he was 0-1 against Manchester City. As a chief coach, Areta has “only” “only” the 2020 FA Cup title with Arsenal.
Four leagues, four clubs and four trainers with very different stories. PSG and Arsenal have the chance to win the Champions League for the first time in their club history. From a personal point of view, Areta and Inzaghi are on the same mission, while Luis Enrique and Flick have their second triumph in each other and would thus push themselves forward among the coaches in the ranking of the record winners. Only three won the premier class more than twice.